PHYSICAL READINESS & RESILIENCE

VALUE

Our physical readiness and resilience research optimizes human performance by developing strategies to increase physical and mental resilience, enhancing physical and mental skills training, defining the physical and cognitive limits of healthy warfighters, and investigating individual genetic characteristics that may buffer stress effects.

GOALS

• Increase understanding of warfighter physiology
• Support performance tracking and mental skills training
• Identify factors that influence and mitigate chronic stress exposure
• Improve warfighter physical and cognitive readiness and resilience
• Define the physical and cognitive limits of healthy warfighters
• Preserve warfighter performance by investigating the individual differences in genetic predisposition, hormone profiles, physical fitness, cardiac modulation, dietary habits, and coping skills that may buffer the effects of stress

CAPABILITIES

• • Physiological and cognitive research using the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) to provide an IVRE that mirrors real-world situations and scenarios
  • Evaluation of the operational effects of fatigue and countermeasures using the CAREN
  • Field research and physiological monitoring
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) testing and evaluation
  • Cognitive function, skills, and performance assessments
  • Physical standards validation
  • Analysis of genetic, salivary, and blood biomarkers

RESEARCH

• Study of the impact of intense exercise on hormone levels and inflammatory response
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement to identify objective neuromarkers of performance
• Static and dynamic validation of mobile EEG systems
• Evaluation of body armor systems on the biomechanics of walking and marksmanship in infantry Marines
• Characterization of physiological and physical changes in special operators while training and operating undersea
• Assessment of mind and body in special forces operators moving through close quarters combat training